NORM-UK, the organisation concerned with the male foreskin, and FORWARD, the organisation concerned with female genital mutilation (FGM), will unite at the Genital Integrity 2008 symposium on September 4th to launch a new campaign promoting the right of all men and women to say no to unnecessary genital surgery.

In the face of a large scale World Health Organisation (WHO) promotion of male circumcision as a means to reduce risk of HIV infection in Africa, the new campaign seeks to redress the balance by making the public aware of the strongly conflicting evidence around the effects of circumcision, and the mixed evidence about its value in HIV prevention, and by promoting the fundamental concept of informed choice in medical treatment.

“Subjecting young children to a painful, damaging and humiliating circumcision in an attempt to prevent HIV infection from sexual contact is not only profoundly unethical, it is an insane waste of money. These boys will not be sexually active for many years, by which time properly proven and more reliable prevention strategies may be available”, said John Warren, chairman of NORM-UK, “Boys must be left to make their own decision when they are old enough to understand the full implications”

“When the issue of female genital mutilation was still sensitive and highly politicised, FORWARD played a leading role in putting the issue on the international agenda, breaking down the walls of silence”, said Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE, Executive Director of FORWARD, “It is time to recognise that the right to genital autonomy belongs to all children, regardless of race, culture or gender”

“Unnecessary genital surgery on babies is said to be cheaper and easier than on adults. All abuse of babies is easier. They are powerless and history will judge us by how we protect the powerless”, said Paul Mason, children’s commissioner for Tasmania, Australia; a keynote speaker at The Genital Integrity 2008 Symposium in Keele, “Do we say to children that they have no say in this because statistically when they grow up and practice unsafe sex they might be better off? I say let the children decide for themselves – all in good time.”